GUENTHER, Emil (1855-1935) a native of Germany who was active in the Western United States, and in western Canada. He was recorded in the following offices:
Emil Guenther, San Antonio, Texas, April 1886 to 1888
Weeks & Guenther, San Diego, Calif., 1889
Emil Guenther, Spokane, Washington, 1890-1896
Emil Guenther, Fresno, California, 1897
Guenther & Van Aken, New Westminster, B.C. Sept. 1898 to 1899 (with T. Van Aken)
Emil Guenther, Vancouver, B.C., 1899-1906
Emil Guenther, San Francisco, Calif. May 1906 to 1907
Beasley & Guenther, San Francisco, Calif. 1907 to April 1912 (with William Beasley)
Emil Guenther, Vancouver, B.C., May 1912 to 1915
Emil Guenther, Seattle, Wash. 1922-1934
Guenther was born in Germany on 4 May 1855 and was first recorded as an architect with the large German-speaking population of San Antonio, Texas (Freie Presse Fur Texas [San Antonio], 28 April 1886, 3, advert.) By late 1888 he had moved to California, and was active in San Diego, Calif. in partnership with a "Mr. Weeks', as Weeks & Guenther, Architects in 1888-89 (National City Record [National City, Calif.], 11 July 1889, 7). He then moved to Spokane, Washington, and from 1889 until c. 1896 he had a busy and successful practice. In 1897 he was recorded once again as an architect in Southern California, in Fresno, Calif., but he lived and worked there for less than one year. He moved to New Westminster, B.C. in 1898 after the Great Fire there in September 1898 and he was briefly in partnership with T. Van Aken (Henderson's British Columbia Directory, 1899, 823). By 1901 he had relocated to Vancouver and began to practice under his own name, specialising in the design of hotels and apartment blocks. His early work, executed in a commercial Italianate style, was completely supplanted by 1912 with his use of an indulgent and ornamented Beaux-Arts style, best seen in his design for the Eagle Hall, Homer Street, Vancouver (1914).
Guenther left Vancouver in 1906 and moved to San Francisco, undoubtedly lured there by prospects for work after the disastrous earthquake of April 1906. He remained there for six years, but returned to Vancouver in April 1912 and resumed his Canadian practise (Vancouver Daily World, 30 April 1912, 10). No references to his works in Canada can be found after 1915; he returned to Seattle, Washington to continue his career and was active there from 1922 until after 1934; Guenther died in Seattle on 14 April 1935 (D. Luxton, Building the West: The Early Architects of British Columbia, 2003, 244-5, 503; biog. and list of works in J.K. Ochsner, Shaping Seattle Architecture, 2014, 441-42)
WEEKS & GUENTHER (works in San Diego, Calif.)
HIGHLAND DISTRICT, a public school building, 1889 (National City Record [San Diego], 11 July 1889, 7, t.c.)
E. GUENTHER (works in Spokane, Wash.)
BANCROFT PUBIC SCHOOL, North Monroe Street near West Stoll Street, 1890 (Spokane Falls Review, 1 Jan. 1891, 3, biography and list of works)
IRVING PUBLIC SCHOOL, Ash Street at 6th Street, 1890 (Spokane Falls Review, 1 Jan. 1891, 3, biography and list of works)
BRYANT PUBLIC SCHOOL, Broadway at Maple Street, 1890 (Spokane Falls Review, 1 Jan. 1891, 3, biography and list of works)
FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL, Front Avenue near Grant Street, 1890 (Spokane Falls Review, 1 Jan 1891, 3, biography and list of works)
SOUTH WALNUT STREET, residence for Edward J. Dyer, 1890 (Spokane Falls Review, 1 Jan. 1891, 3)
MANSFIELD AVENUE, residence for Walter Currier, 1890 (Spokane Falls Review, 1 Jan. 1891, 3)
FIFTH AVENUE, at Park Street, 3 houses for E. Edison Bertrand, 1890 (Spokane Falls Review, 1 Jan. 1891, 3)
CRESCENT AVENUE, in Ross Park, residence for the architect, 1890 (Spokane Falls Review, 1 Jan. 1891, 3)
THIRD STREET, at Maple Avenue, large residence for Mr. Rice of Denver, Colorado 1891 (Spokane Daily Chronicle, 3 March 1891, 5, descrip.)
RIVERSIDE AVENUE, pair of houses for William R. Mead, 1891 (Spokane Daily Chronicle, 3 March 1891, 5)
SECOND AVENUE, near Coeur d'Alene Park, residence for Harris G. Stimmel, 1891 (Spokane Daily Chronicle, 3 March 1891, 5)
LINCOLN STREET, at First Street, a large 3 storey block "....with third floor fitted as a Meeting Room for secret Societies", 1891 (Spokane Daily Chronicle, 3 March 1891, 5, descrip.; and 1 April 1891, 5)
SPRAGUE STREET, near Monroe Street, commercial block for John Mohr, 1891 (Spokane Daily Chronicle, 13 May 1891, 5, descrip.; 18 May 1891, 1)
SPRAGUE STREET, at Monroe Street, a five storey block for Charles Mohr and Robert Mohr, with Odd Fellow's Hall, 1891 (Spokane Daily Chronicle, 20 June 1891, 1; 11 Aug. 1891, 8)
SPRAGUE STREET, at Monroe Street, southwest corner, a three storey block for Andrew J. Hogan, 1891 (Spokane Daily Chronicle, 20 June 1891, 1; and 11 Aug 1891, 8)
SPRAGUE STREET, new 2 storey block for Mr. Schorr "......on the site of the former Alki Block", 1891 (Spokane Daily Chronicle, 20 June 1891, 1)
MONROE STREET, between Sprague Street and Riverside Avenue, a 3 storey block for Mr. Heath, 1891 (Spokane Daily Chronicle, 20 June 1891, 1)
RIVERSIDE AVENUE, between Howard Street and Stevens Street, residence for William Buckworth, 1891 (Spokane Daily Chronicle, 20 June 1891, 1)
BENHAM & GRIFFITH CO., beside the Northern Pacific R.R. track, between South Post Street and South Lincoln Street, addition of new storey above existing warehouse, 1891 (Spokane Daily Chronicle, 20 June 1891, 1)
SPRAGUE STREET, at Lincoln Street, commercial block at the south-east corner, 1891 (Spokane Daily Chronicle, 11 Aug. 1891, 8, descrip.)
GALLAND BROS. BREWING & MALTING CO., Broadway at Lincoln Street, new Malt House and Grain Elevator, 1891 (Spokane Daily Chronicle, 11 Aug. 1891, 8; 17 Aug. 1891, 5, descrip.)
MEDICAL LAKE, WASH., a new Sanatarium, 1892 (Spokane Daily Chronicle, 3 Feb. 1892, 8)
ENGLISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, Fourth Avenue, 1893 (Spokane Daily Chronicle, 16 Nov. 1893, 4, descrip.)
E. GUENTHER (works in Fresno, Calif.)
DONOHOO, EMMONS & CO., I Street [Eye Street], at Mariposa Street, a substantial 3 storey addition to the existing commercial block, 1897 (Fresno Weekly Republican, 29 Jan. 1897, 6, descrip.)
N STREET, major addition to residence for John Scheidt, located "...opposite the Central School", 1897 (Fresno Weekly Republican, 29 Jan. 1897, 6)
BEER BREWERY, with Ice factory and cold storage warehouse, 1897 (Fresno Weekly Republican, 20 Feb. 1897, 4, descrip.)
E. GUENTHER (works in New Westminster)
(with T. Van Aken) OPERA HOUSE, Victoria Street at Lorne Street, 1898-99 (C.R., ix, 9 Nov. 1898, 2; Victoria Daily Times, 2 Feb. 1899, 7; Province [Vancouver], 10 March 1899, 8)
(with T. Van Aken) ST. PAUL'S REFORMED EPISCOPAL CHURCH, Royal Avenue at 7th Street, 1898-99 (C.R., ix, 21 Dec. 1898, 2, t.c.)
CARNAVON STREET, residence for Frederick Eickhoff, 1899 (C.R., x, 22 Feb. 1899, 3)
E. GUENTHER (works in Vancouver unless noted)
ODD FELLOW'S HALL, Pender Street at Richards Street, 1899 (Province [Vancouver], 7 Sept. 1899, 8; Victoria Daily Times, 8 Sept. 1899, 7, descrip.)
SHERDAHL BLOCK, Abbott Street at Water Street, 1900; ground floor facade altered 1969 (Vancouver Daily World, 21 Dec. 1899, 2, descrip.; C.R., x, 3 Jan. 1900, 2; Province [Vancouver], 24 Aug. 1900, 1; H. Kalman, Exploring Vancouver, 1978, 26, illus.)
unnamed street, commercial block for Andrew Scuitto, perhaps a hotel building, 1900 (Province [Vancouver], 1 March 1900, 8)
NORTH VANCOUVER, The Hotel North Vancouver, for Peter Larsen, Esplanade Avenue West, 1901; burned 1929 (Vancouver Daily World, 8 Aug. 1901, 8)
TERMINUS HOTEL, Water Street, a complete rebuilding of the hotel for William Jones, 1901-02 (City of Vancouver b.p., 12 Oct. 1901; Vancouver Daily World, 22 March 1902, 3, descrip.)
HOWE SOUND, B.C., hotel for Reinhold Minaty, 1901 (C.R., xii, 1 May 1901, 3)
HASTINGS STREET, a three storey commercial block "...between the CPR Telegraph Office and the Bank of Commerce", for an unnamed client, 1902 (Vancouver Daily World, 10 April 1902, 8, descrip.)
EAGLES FRATERNAL LODGE, Hastings Street, 1902 (Vancouver Daily World, 25 Oct. 1902, 8, descrip.)
WESTERN AVENUE, a large two storey machine shop for Sam Hollander, "..near the Bridge", 1903 (Vancouver Daily World, 21 Jan. 1903, 8)
COLUMBIA BREWERY CO., Powell Street, extensive additions and improvements, 1905 (Province [Vancouver], 15 April 1905, 1, descrip.)
SEATON STREET, residence for Reinhold Minaty, 1905 (C.R., xvi, 26 July 1905, 6)
CARRAL STREET, at Pender Street, commercial block for Yon & Co., 1905 (C.R., xvi, 6 Sept. 1905, 2, t.c.)
GRANVILLE STREET, at 7th Avenue West, in Fairview, commercial block for J. Grauest, 1906 (C.R., xvii, 14 March 1906, 6; Pacific Building & Engineering Record [Seattle], iv, 17 March 1906, 10)
RANIER HOTEL, Cordova Street at Carrall Street, '.....to replace the old Balmoral Hotel', 1906 (Province [Vancouver], 21 March 1906, 1, descrip.; Vancouver Daily World, 21 March 1906, 1; 30 May 1906, 1, descrip.; C.R., xvii, 4 April 1906, 5, t.c.)
MILLER BLOCK, Cordova Street, extensive alterations and addition, 1906 (Vancouver Daily World, 30 May 1906, 1)
WEST HASTINGS STREET, at Seymour Street, addition of two storeys above an existing block, for Henry G. Bissett, and conversion of the building into a hotel, 1906 (Pacific Builder & Engineering Record [Seattle], iv, 16 June 1906, 11)
E. GUENTHER (works in San Francisco, Calif.)
DUPONT STREET, at Commercial Street East, a 4 storey commercial block for the West Coast Improvement Co., 1906 (The Recorder [San Francisco], 21 Sept. 1906, 7)
BEASLEY & GUENTHER (works in San Francisco)
EAST WAVERLEY PLACE, at South Washington Street, a 4 storey block for the Shew Kae Association, 1909-10 (The Recorder [San Francisco], 23 Dec. 1909, 8)
E. GUENTHER (works in Vancouver)
HOTEL REGENT, East Hastings Street near Main Street, for A. Clemes, 1912-13 (Province [Vancouver], 18 Jan. 1913, 25, illus. & descrip.; 15 March 1913, 24; 30 Aug. 1913, 21, illus. & descrip.; dwgs. at the Vancouver City Archives)
CANADA HOTEL, Richards Street near Pender Street, a 7 storey hotel, 1912-13 (Province [Vancouver], 12 Oct. 1912, 23, illus. & descrip.; dwgs. at the Vancouver City Archives)
HASTINGS STREET, near Main Street, an 8 storey hotel for W.J.C. Hunter, 1912-13 (Province [Vancouver], 7 Dec. 1912, 28, illus. & descrip.; Vancouver Daily World, 7 Dec. 1912, 21; The Sun [Vancouver], 9 Dec. 1912, 18, descrip.)
ROBSON STREET, near Thurlow Street, apartment block for Charles G. Muller, 1912-13 (Province [Vancouver], 7 Dec. 1912, 28, illus. & descrip.; Vancouver Daily World, 14 Dec. 1912, 19, descrip.; The Sun [Vancouver], 16 Dec. 1912, 19, descrip.)
GEORGIA STREET, at Alberni Street, between Jervis Street at Broughton Street, a 6 storey apartment block for R.J. Scott, 1912-13 (Vancouver Daily World, 21 Dec. 1912, 17, illus. & descrip.; The Sun [Vancouver], 23 Dec. 1912, 3, descrip.; Province [Vancouver], 4 Jan. 1913, 14, illus. & descrip.)
HARRIS STREET, at Gore Avenue, theatre, 1914 (C.R., xxviii, 6 May 1914, 74)
EAGLE TEMPLE, Homer Street near Dunsmuir Street, for the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 1914-15 (Vancouver Daily World, 18 Jan. 1915, 8, illus. & descrip.; C.R., xxviii, 23 Dec. 1914, 54-5, t.c.; xxix, 8 Sept. 1915, 935, illus. & descrip.)
ENGLISH BAY, baths for the Vancouver Salt Water Baths Co., 1915 (C.R., xxix, 10 March 1915, 54, t.c.)
E. GUENTHER (works in Washington State)
ANACORTES, WASH., Eagles Hall, 1920
SEATTLE, WASH., Young Men's Hebriew House, 1920
SEATTLE, WASH., a 5 storey apartment block with 53 units, costing $175,000, Olive Street at 7th Avenue, 1922-23 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 15 Oct. 1922, Section Two, p. 3, descrip.)
SEATTLE, WASH., El Capitan Apartments, 1925 (with Charles W. Saunders)
SEATTLE, WASH., Carleton Apartments, Pontius Avenue at Mercer Street, a 3 storey apartment block for C.R. Bailey, 1926 (Seattle Star, 17 April 1926, 16, descrip.)
COMPETITIONS
VANCOUVER, B.C., the East End School, and the West End School, 1900. Guenther was one of ten local architects who prepared designs for these two new schools (Province [Vancouver], 21 July 1900, 6). His drawings were set aside in favour of winning proposals from E.A. Whitehead, and from Parr & Fee.
VANCOUVER GENERAL HOSPITAL, 1903. Three architectural firms in Vancouver were asked to submit designs for the new General Hospital, including Emil Guenther who teamed up with William Blackmore, and the other offices of W.T. Whiteway, and Grant & Henderson (Province [Vancouver], 12 June 1903, 9). It is unclear who won the competition.
VANCOUVER HIGH SCHOOL, 1903. The office of Emil Guenther was one of seven firms invited to submit plans for the new High School in Fairview (Province [Vancouver], 6 July 1903, 12; Vancouver Daily World, 9 Sept. 1903, 2). The School Board later declared W.T. Whiteway as the winner.